I am pretty tired. What a busy and kinda crazy 4th of July! So many people up here in Door County, and the weather is amazing: in the 70's with a light breeze and sunny. Everyone seems to have their own backyard fireworks, echoing off the water, so I probably will be up for a little while. On the knitting front, I finished a gorgeous hat today, my own design using hand-dyed wool from Manos del Uruguay (Maxima in the Fire colorway) and a complimentary gold color (Cascade 220 goldenrod). I used a stranded stitch pattern from Alice Starmore, an Eastern horizontal repeat.

Close up of my new hat, one of a kind!

And, although I am really enjoying using Squarespace to put together this website, I have no earthly clue how to size my pictures better, so, I suspect this one will look huge, too. (hey, figured out how to make it smaller! Later edited) But here's me modeling my just-finished hat:

Yes, it's a knitting selfie. Deal with it.

I posted a picture (in night lighting) of the WIP (work in progress) on Facebook, because I was so enjoying the colors and yarn. Here's the picture:

Delicious yarn

A friend of mine posted that it looked like spaghetti. She is completely right. Maybe I should have whipped up a meatball repeat hat right on the spot. Oh, well.

Fire Hat I designed using a stitch pattern from Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns, with Merino hand-dyed from Manos del Uruguay

So when I first started making knitted items, I followed the pattern to the letter. Then, I started to improvise, changing a few things here and there, learning how to improve the fit of a sweater. And I made a few mistakes, which were very good learning moments. ahem. yes. Along the way, I've become better at ripping back and doing things over, although that is still not as much fun as some other things. But it's satisfying to be able to fix errors, and make the image in my head come out in the yarn.

As I've gone along, I've really come to appreciate good design. Knitting patterns that one buys often come with variations, stitch counts all prefigured for you depending on your gauge and size. And the method of construction sometimes is very unique, and makes for an interesting knitting experience.

One of my favorite designers is Lee Meredith, from Leethal Knits. I've knit several of her hats, mitts, and small knitting projects. She has a great eye for color and amazing photos of her projects. She often uses recycled yarn or leftover bits to create gorgeous combinations that use every last bit of yarn stash wisely. In my Etsy store, I have three hats designed by Lee (Wild is the Wind, Barry, and Misanga). She's said that knitters can sell items created from her patterns within reason (and after giving credit), which is another thing that I love about her.

And that brings me to my next point: the ambiguous world of selling knitwear from other's patterns. I want to do the right thing here, so I have dutifully respected designers comments requesting that one not sell items one makes from their patterns. Mostly, lately, that means I don't knit that pattern, as I am knitting up things to stock up my Etsy store. That has limited me from making some cool looking things, but also.... has made me come up with my own designs.

So, minor complaint: I am not a knitting machine, I am a mom, Physical Therapist, and just as crazy busy as the next person. If I pay $6 for a pattern, that I spend many hours making with expensive and unique yarns that I choose, why does the designer not want me to sell that item? I am not mass producing things, or devaluing their hard work. My promoting of their patterns might lead other knitters to buy the pattern.

Okay, but this situation has had a very cool result: my own designing skills are getting pretty groovy! I am taking my own ideas, and having lots of fun making up items, stitch counts, decreases, all that. It is awesome, and I think that's the direction I will be going more and more. Making my own designs to create and sell. Maybe someday I will sell the patterns, too, but that will be a ways off, if I ever go that direction.

So, really, designers do rock. I have so much respect and appreciation for the creativity and hard work that goes into design. And, in a round about way, designers are making me better at what I do.

Working on some custom orders from people around here. A pair of boot socks in merino and cashmere, a bright hat for a lady who has a hard time finding the right fit, and a sweater for a baby who will soon arrive. So much fun!

Hi, I'm Jenn, a Physical Therapist, a wife, and a mom of two wonderful boys. I also love to knit, and have lots of fun doing it. I like to get creative, play with ideas, and create lovely and unique things out of beautiful yarn. Color and texture make me oooh and ahhhh. I can get lost in a decrease plan. Slipped stitches and complicated colorwork are my idea of crazy weekend fun.

I can be a knitting nerd, but would like to spare my family and friends too much pain. So, that's one of the reasons I've started this blog! To talk knitting, yarns, ideas, and of course to share my Etsy store.

Another reason is that we are dealing with cancer. My husband has squamous cell skin cancer in his lymph nodes, and has just started chemo and radiation after having four surgeries. It has been a rough 7 months or so. I need something joyful and undemanding. Kids and work are wonderful and fulfilling, but not undemanding, you understand. So when I can focus on something else to distract myself from the incredible stress and fear that wears you down on the cancer journey, I will do it!

In addition to knitting, I love to run, too. I am slow but dedicated and running is very helpful for me in many ways. I can run in the mornings and it keeps me calm for the day. I can also run to raise funds and support great causes. Wonderful, amazing people are involved in knitting and in running. In both communities, there is dedication, discussion of fine detail, and lots of laughter.

So, I hope if you are reading this, you are enjoying getting to know me through the blog, browsing my items for sale, and learning a little while laughing a lot. I am open to talking Physical Therapy, knitting, or running, even cancer, marriage, and parenthood.

A Little About The Goddess Door —

My name is Jennifer Gaddes, and I live in lovely Door County, Wisconsin. I create hand knitted items made of amazing fibers in scrumptious colors. I opened my Etsy store to share my knitting, and started this website to bring together a bit about my life and my creations. Your feedback and comments are welcome, as are requests for custom orders.